Chapter 879: Breaking the Cycle?

Breaking the cycle?

Lu Xin pondered those four words, feeling an unusual magnetism in each syllable.

Is this truly what Mom intended?

“Yes…”

The Dark Queen nodded gently, lost in thought. “A proud, brilliant woman like your sister would never aspire to what lesser minds pursue—becoming some so-called deity in reality or harboring ambitions to seize power.”

“In truth, all she ever wanted was to break the cycle, to shatter the chains binding us Ultimates.”

“…”

Her expression grew reflective as she spoke.

Her voice, devoid of its usual intensity, softened:

“Back then, we awoke together from the Abyss and stepped into reality. In a way, I was luckier than my sister.”

“She was captured from the start, even exploited.”

“While I won my freedom, becoming one of the earliest Ultimates to arrive unbound.”

“Alas…”

Her lips twitched briefly before she continued, “In the end, we are not the same.”

“I, once free, foolishly fell into the hands of Gaoshan Laboratory and became…”

“…a lackey!”

The bitterness in her voice was unmistakable.

It was as if she were cursing others while mocking herself.

After her tirade, she paused as if to savor the sting of her own words, then looked at Lu Xin and said, “And yet, your sister gradually freed herself from a fate of bondage…”

Lu Xin listened, nodding silently.

Indeed, he still did not understand how Mom became controlled by the First Researcher.

But she had long lost her freedom, confined within her own surroundings.

Likewise, Father had lost his authority.

Both were locked away in a dilapidated house for years.

He could almost picture those years—under the unyielding gaze of the Primordial, teetering on the brink of collapse, moments away from unleashing an anger that could obliterate all, Mom, who could peer into fate yet was manipulated by others, sitting in her room and staring out at the faint lights beyond the window, lost in thought.

Perhaps she harbored resentment and bitterness, yet whenever he recalled her, she always smiled.

Whenever she appeared, her smile was confident and gentle…

A shiver ran through Lu Xin’s heart as a thought struck him.

Had his upbringing known nothing but Father’s oppressive, fearful presence and lacked Mom’s warm smile…

…would he have become who he is now?

……

“Cycle…”

He lowered his voice, murmuring, “What exactly is the cycle?”

“The cycle is a pattern…”

The Dark Queen nodded slightly before replying, “It is the tide that repeatedly washes over reality.”

“It is also the destiny of civilizations, generation after generation.”

“…”

She paused, then looked at Lu Xin and asked, “Do you understand the Primordial?”

“This…”

Lu Xin suddenly found himself unable to answer.

He had seen the deepest part of the Abyss—the steadfast corpse of a god, long dead yet clinging to existence.

He had even begun harnessing the Primordial Force to assimilate the Unique Consciousness.

But what exactly is the Primordial?

“Heh, you don’t even know what the Primordial is, yet you’ve already begun saving the world with others…”

Observing his hesitation, the Dark Queen’s smile turned mocking.

Lu Xin frowned at her look, then slowly twisted his palm.

An invisible surge of Mental Power unfurled, pressing heavily against the floor beside him. It seemed as if he had been rendered unconscious while a stealthy black child crept outward, enveloping his entire body.

It not only dragged him back but hoisted him into mid-air before slamming him down hard.

The black child let out a piercing, anguished cry.

The Dark Queen’s expression shifted minutely as she fixed her gaze on Lu Xin.

Lu Xin returned her gaze with a gentle nod.

Perhaps sensing his courtesy, the Dark Queen’s demeanor softened ever so slightly.

Her posture straightened as her tone grew grave. ”

The Primordial is God.”

“You can also see it as the ultimate purpose behind the birth and evolution of life—the final destination.”

“Do you really believe the arrival of the Primordial was mere chance?”

“It was inevitable—destined!”

“In truth, the Primordial has always existed.”

“From the moment life emerged and gained the power to dream, the Primordial was born.”

“She is the projection of humanity’s spiritual realm, the embodiment of our collective subconscious. You could see her as the sum of every life that has graced this world, or as the tomb for all that eventually fades away…”

“…”

Lu Xin’s brow furrowed as he absorbed her words.

He grasped every word yet struggled to digest her true intent.

For what she spoke of did not seem to refer to any one individual—it was unlike the Primordial he had witnessed before.

Layer upon layer of life—what nonsense?

A projection of the spiritual world? What significance does that hold?

Unable to contain himself, he asked, “Why does such a life exist? What purpose does it serve?”

“Purpose?”

The Dark Queen smiled and shook her head. “It serves no purpose and holds no meaning.”

“I’m not referring to the monster you imagine lurking in the deepest Abyss.”

“Nor the weapon wielded in petty workplace battles…”

“I’m talking about the Primordial—it is complete and has always influenced everyone in reality…”

“…”

She paused deeply, exhaled, and then looked seriously at Lu Xin, saying:

“Do not try to understand it in human terms.”

“The Primordial simply is what it is.”

“It will manifest because it follows an immutable pattern.”

“Just like the sun, moon, and stars, or all creation—birth and destruction are void of inherent meaning.”

“What meaning is there in the universe’s explosions and reversals?”

“Meaning is something only humans chase; gods do not…”

“The very existence of God is meaning in itself!”

“…”

Listening to her words, Lu Xin sat up a little straighter.

It was all so different from what he had expected.

Her descriptions diverged starkly from his own thoughts and understandings.

Yet, a subtle intuition stirred within him, urging him to listen further.

“The Primordial is not a calamity exclusive to your world.”

The Dark Queen paused before adding softly, “The Primordial was born long ago.”

“She is the projection of life—or you might call her life’s dark mirror.”

“Within this three-dimensional realm, every civilization with sentient beings has its own Primordial.”

“From the first creature’s birth, she has existed.”

“She influenced the first civilization and then swallowed it whole.”

“Then she affected the second, the third, the fourth generation…”

“You all…”

She paused as if to gesture, then continued calmly, “I lost count of the generations.”

“But if civilizations were numbered, perhaps they’d already reached four digits…”

“…”

“?”

This left Lu Xin both astonished and doubtful.

“It’s true.”

The Dark Queen whispered, “The Primordial has always existed.”

“Every Ultimate harbors a second side, and the Primordial does too.”

“It is both the beginning and the end.”

“Whenever a civilization is born, she falls into slumber, and her dreams become the collective subconscious of humanity.”

“Her spirit influences each generation, inspiring great intellect, then watching as they imprint their unique spiritual marks before awakening to return life to its source…”

“Perhaps if you flip through the annals predating the Red Moon incident, you might glimpse the Primordial’s shadow.”

“The Primordial has long lain dormant in the shadows of your civilization, though occasionally someone’s dream will intertwine with her tendrils.”

“Then they awaken, striving to depict the Primordial’s visage for others.”

“Thus emerged the deities you speak of, and various religions…”

“Your history and legends have always hinted at her presence, though she cares little whether you know it or not.”

“…”

She stated these words without any hint of emotion.

Finally, after a long pause, she looked steadily at Lu Xin and said:

“Before the Red Moon incident, your civilization was on the brink of its return.”

“That is why you felt such oppression and loss—it was because the Primordial no longer shielded you.”

“…”

“This…”

Lu Xin still found it hard to grasp this overwhelmingly vast concept.

So profound were its implications that he felt his thoughts and perceptions constrained.

“So…”

After a moment’s contemplation, he asked, “If the Primordial truly manifests, what will happen?”

“If the Primordial truly manifests…”

A deep smile played on the Dark Queen’s lips as she replied, “Then anything is possible.”

“The manifestation of the Primordial signifies the return of every consciousness.”

“It could mean that every mind will ultimately exist freely within the primordial mother.”

“Just like a monarch ruling in the Land of Illusions, whatever you desire becomes reality.”

“Within your own thoughts and dreamscape, you become the absolute protagonist, living an endless, beautiful dream where every desire—whether noble or dark—can be realized.”

“Yet, it might also lead to a state of slumber where your consciousness is completely erased.”

“But perhaps that isn’t entirely bad.”

“To have all desires fulfilled or to have them wiped away are virtually indistinguishable.”

“In fact, erasing all desires and consciousness might be even superior.”

“After all, we know that theoretically, human desires can never be completely satisfied…”

“…”

“…”

Lu Xin detected a note of derisive mockery in her tone, as if she reveled in witnessing his misfortune despite her own dire state.

Instead of continuing her lecture, he fell silent for a moment before murmuring,

“Then what about the Red Moon incident?”

“If the Primordial manifests, will there be another Red Moon incident—or even something worse?”

“…”

The third manifestation has already occurred, and he, along with Qinggang, is currently striving to resolve the crisis.

Although the process was arduous and perilous—nearly collapsing several times—the results have been relatively satisfying.

Yet, after hearing her words, Lu Xin couldn’t help but wonder: if the third manifestation was stopped, might a fourth occur?

“No.”

Upon his query, the Dark Queen, though momentarily lost in thought, softened her normally indifferent expression.

After a brief pause, she replied with a complex look, “The Red Moon incident is, in fact, a symbol of your rebellion…”

“…”

“Hmm?”

Her words shocked Lu Xin, who found them absurd and outlandish.

Rebellion?

Rebellion against what?

We are discussing the Red Moon incident here.

It was the collapse of the Pre-Civilization Era that triggered a 70% mortality—one of humanity’s greatest calamities.

Now she claims it is a symbol of rebellion?

……

……

“You must understand that the awakening of the Primordial, or the return of the spiritual realm, is irreversible.”

Noticing Lu Xin’s astonishment, the Dark Queen spoke softly, “Before the Red Moon incident, the Primordial’s gaze had already fallen upon reality. The curse of humanity had begun. Even then, inexplicable events defying your logic unfolded in the real world, giving birth to miraculous beings and mysterious disasters.”

“And the reason is simple…”

“The Primordial had already begun to awaken; you were already close to the gods.”

“At that moment, beings on the brink of return had two choices. Some, who faithfully revered the gods, welcomed the Primordial’s return, waiting like lambs for that fateful moment…”

“Others, gripped by panic and madness, only accelerated the Primordial’s return.”

“And then there were those who rebelled, resorting to every means to resist…”

“…”

At this point, she looked up at Lu Xin and said, “Unfortunately, in your world, the third group played their part.”

Lu Xin tensed, awaiting her next words.

Then the Dark Queen furrowed her brow as if trying to find the right words, “Perhaps everything can only be called… a coincidence?”

“…”

She paused again, her expression unreadable, then told Lu Xin, “We can only call it a coincidence that gave birth to Gaoshan Laboratory.”

“When the Primordial’s gaze shifted to reality, most people belonged to the first two types. Yet at that time, on this very earth, there existed a sect that appeared devout but did not truly believe in divinity, and a researcher who, despite his scientific pursuits, fervently believed that many ancient myths hid the truth about this world.”

“You have met both of them.”

“…”

Lu Xin was visibly stunned as images of the cold, domineering Black-clad Bishop and the smiling yet detached old Researcher in a white coat flashed through his mind.

They…

“When they began their preparations, I had not yet awakened, so I couldn’t fathom how they achieved it.”

The Dark Queen continued, “But after I entered reality and witnessed their work and research, I could guess.”

“It was these two who, amid that desolation, rallied a group of like-minded souls once the Primordial’s gaze turned to the real world, unraveling its truth and seeking salvation.”

“What I know is that among countless mysterious organizations and cults spanning millennia, they uncovered useful rituals, secret phrases, and revered names—methods to commune with the Primordial. They analyzed, sorted, and integrated these.”

“Later, they even resorted to extreme experiments to verify the importance and proper usage of these rituals. Through successive tests, they confirmed the Primordial’s existence, deciphered prophetic codes left by ancient tribes to predict the end times, and prepared to resist the gods…”

“…”

“Resist the gods…”

By now, Lu Xin found the idea of ‘resisting the gods’ utterly incredible.

Even in a reality filled with breakthroughs in Mental Power research and powerful Ability Users, the notion still sounded absurd. How could they have conceived it back then?

Especially when they combed through ancient scrolls with relentless determination…

Though he disagreed with their methods deep down, he couldn’t help but admire the meticulousness and boldness with which they acted.

…Lu Xin found himself silently admiring them!

…

…

“Heh, humans’ greatest delusion is believing they can achieve miracles…”

The Dark Queen’s face was etched with disdain as she shook her head:

“Yet, what’s most fascinating about humans is that sometimes, they really do pull off miracles…”

“…”

Lu Xin listened almost numbly. “These people, after much research and discussion, accepted one fact.”

“They believed the manifestation of the Primordial was both irreversible and inevitable.”

“So they prepared to seize the initiative.”

“By analyzing and reconstructing ancient Yueshen Instruments alongside your generation’s scientific techniques, they created the Genesis Hard Drive and selected certain lives to serve as the first messengers approaching the Primordial…”

“Perhaps, in the beginning, their aim was simply to beg for mercy—bowing in supplication?”

“As absurd as it sounds, I think that’s likely. Otherwise, I can’t understand why they truly did it.”

“Yet, such ridiculous and immature experiments opened up a new world for them.”

“Because once the experiment began, they discovered that the Primordial was both powerful and irresistible—but it had no consciousness; it was nothing more than a vast, unknowable chaotic sea that simply existed.”

“And they reinforced the consciousness code so that the chosen experiment subject miraculously survived to witness the Primordial.”

“Of course, among so many experimental subjects, only one survived.”

“…”

“But that was enough…”

The Dark Queen sighed deeply before saying, “After all, that was the Primordial—or rather, the first complete human consciousness within the collective subconscious sea…”

“Perhaps that consciousness was weak, but it was the only one in that vast sea. As it merged into the boundless ocean, it grew to unimaginable proportions, fueled by anger and intent on striking back.”

“In reality, people had no means of resistance.”

“But this lone consciousness, largely protected by reality and its maternal source, was still subject to the researchers’ control. Before it could exact its revenge, they ended its life, causing the consciousness—destined to be the first god—to dissipate.”

“It died in the vast subconscious sea, consumed by hatred in its final moments, tainting the Primordial with its darkest emotions.”

“Thus, the pure Primordial vanished, and from its void, the Thirteen Ultimate were born.”

“…”

Lu Xin’s face grew tense; he was left nearly speechless.

Then the Dark Queen looked at him calmly and said, “That, dear, is us!”

“Prisoner of the Night, Keeper of Fate, Fire-Thief, Cangzhang Sect, Pale Hand, Coronated Clown, Tortured Mother, Sword-Bearer, Abyss Worm, Nothingness, Dark Queen, Nightmare of God, and the fragmented Primordial born from a splintering of emotions…”

“Every Ultimate carries distinct emotions and traits inherited from that first human consciousness that entered the Primordial and was slain—emotions of fear, curiosity, longing for knowledge, ambition, desire, chaos, compassion, and the resentment born of injustice and a craving for fairness.”

“And as for anger… I suppose you understand that better than anyone.”

“This is the origin of the Thirteen Ultimate.”